In the early 1990s the former communist states envied East Germany. All of these countries had to go through difficult reforms, whereas East Germany could import enormous subsidies, social legislation and higher wages from West Germany. But importing high costs without first having the productivity to pay for it is not something to envy. Today, almost all of these countries are making rapid progress, except Eastern Germany, which is stuck in massive unemployment and stagnation. And yesterday a quarter of its population voted for the post-communists. (Johan Norberg)